Henry Burkart

Born Henry Allen Burkart, Aug. 4, 1932 in Orange, the only child of James Milton Burkart and Nellie V. Bowler-Burkart. Allen grew up in Orange, in the Cove.

He attended St. Mary's School and later Stark High School.

He played football for both teams.

He graduated in 1950.

He served in the Army during the Korean war.

After he returned to Orange he worked in the air conditioning industry.

Later he worked with his father in the plumbing business as well as water management in the Cove and continued working as a plumber for many years.

Later he began moving houses and established Burkart's House Moving which he maintained for the rest of his life.

Along with these various businesses, he did many other different sorts of work including heavy machinery.

His life-long dream was to have a marina on Adam's Bayou where he slowly purchased property and built the business. He loved being in or around the water. He was most happy when he was riding in a boat or fishing in the marshes and tributaries of the Sabine River. He knew those waterways by heart.

He was a life-long member of St. Mary Church in Orange. He served there as an altar boy throughout elementary, junior high and high school. As an adult he served the parish in various capacities but loved ministering as an usher and sacristan. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus Council # 1680.

Allen was a known for his hard work ethic and kind heart. He was not so great with names, but he remembered everyone's face and enjoyed talking with anyone he met. He never met a stranger, or a person with whom he would not have a conversation. Allen was his work. He could never have lived in retirement. With the grace of God he was able to work, running his various businesses, until the Lord called him to his heavenly home.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his loving wife, Augusta Cleo Burkart.

Those left to cherish his memory include his children, Keith Allen Burkart, James Milton Burkart, II, Leslie Michell Burkart-Uzzle and husband Chuck Uzzle, Debbie Commer, D’Anne Commer-Hoffpauir and husband Glen Hoffpauir, Stanley Commer and wife Shirlene and Dania and husband Pete Matak; grandchildren, Hunter O. Uzzle, Evangeline A. Burkart, Jacqueline M. Burkart-Singleton, Teddy Hoffpauir, Angela Hoffpauir-Cockerham, Stephanie Matak and Pete Matak, Jr. and his great-grandchildren, Abigayle Granger, Alexander C. Burkart, Elizabeth K. Burkart, Angelique Luis, Jeremy Allen Cockerham, Noble Turner, Mackenzie Hoffpauir, Mason Hoffpauir and Mikel Hoffpauir.

Visitation will be offered at Claybar Funeral Home, Orange, Wednesday, Sept. 14, from 5:00-9:00 p.m., with a vigil for the deceased at 6:30. A rosary will be prayed following the vigil service.

A funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Mary Church, Thursday, Sept. 15, at 10:00 a.m. Burial will follow at Evergreen Cemetery in Orange.

Serving as pallbearers will be Quinton Singleton, Glenn Hoffpauir, Chuck Uzzle, Bobby Payne, Dallen Tarver and Randy Plant.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations in his memory to St. Mary Church, 912 Cherry Avenue, Orange, Tx., 77630.